IT is the hardest part of football but one that Marco Negri made look easy. Now, 18 years on, Martyn Waghorn is attempting to follow suit as he hits the goal trail for Rangers.

The mixture of a quick, creative midfield and free-scoring striker is a potent one, and the combination is once again proving productive at Ibrox.

In 1997, Negri arrived in Glasgow and took the scoring charts by storm. There was the memorable five against Dundee United, the four he put past Dunfermline and a hat-trick against Kilmarnock.

There were strikes in Europe and in Old Firm matches as the Italian – who cost Walter Smith £3.5million when he moved from Perugia – looked like being worth his weight in gold in the quest for 10-in-a-row.

Now, it is Waghorn who is leading the title charge for the Light Blues as he attempts to fire Rangers to the Championship crown and book their place back in the top flight next term.

In his 13 games for Mark Warburton’s side this season, he has already scored 14 times as he has become a key part of the Gers blue print.

The 25-year-old’s scoring record south of the border, where he spent time with the likes of Sunderland and Leicester before moving from Wigan in the summer, hardly gave a glimpse that he was capable of the kind of run he has put together thus far.

Boss Warburton has always been sure the forward would reap the benefits of a sustained run and a hat-trick against Morton, which included his seventh penalty of the season, was further proof that Waghorn is well in the scoring groove.

And Negri – who netted 33 goals in his first 26 games for Rangers and 39 in all competitions come the end of the campaign - is delighted to see the Englishman repaying the faith his manager has shown in him.

“The position of striker is very strange, it is like a goalkeeper. The striker needs confidence,” he told SportTimes.

“When you start the season the right way and you are scoring goals, your confidence is very, very high.

“When you are on the pitch, you are always thinking you are doing the right movement, you think that every shot you take will be a goal. Confidence is the first thing you need.

“Rangers right now are playing great football, a great passing game.

“Martyn is working very hard for the team and he knows that he will get a lot of chances to score.

“It is the perfect match because you are giving your all and you know that there will be something for you in return.

“Martyn is scoring goals and Rangers are winning games and it is about the team. You need your team-mates, you need the right pass at the right moment.

“You are at the end of a chain and the final link.”

Having set out to break through the 20 goal barrier by the end of the campaign, Waghorn is likely to have to adjust his target sooner rather than later after a storming start to the season.

Goals have not proven hard to come by for Rangers as they have swept their Championship rivals aside and already put themselves in a commanding position at the top of the table.

The free-flowing approach from Warburton’s side is paying significant dividends so far as Waghorn has been the beneficiary of an attack-minded Gers outfit.

Negri said: “At the start of that incredible season in 1997, I had a lot of confidence in myself because I had just finished a great season in Serie A where I scored a lot of goals. I knew in myself that I could have a great impact in Scottish football.

“At that time, I played with some great players, like Laudrup, Gascoigne and Albertz.

“So I had plenty of chances to score and a lot of service inside the penalty box and that is important. You need good players around you as well.

“I just had to wait for the right ball and my job was a lot easier with those kind of team-mates.

“It is the same for Martyn this season. He is getting the service from his team-mates and he is scoring a lot of goals.

“It was an incredible run for me. I scored a lot of goals and the fans were great with me.”

Even if Waghorn can’t continue his current scoring rate and match Negri’s tally, it already appears to be a matter of when, not if, Warburton’s side will be crowned champions.

A series of impressive performances have given the Ibrox crowd renewed hope and belief as they set their sights on a Premiership place at the second time of asking.

And Negri reckons the style and approach of the new look Light Blues outfit will stand them in good stead for the here and now and the future.

He said: “It is about how they are winning. They are playing entertaining football and the fans are seeing a lot of goals.

“After a few seasons when the results were there but the performances were not there, this season is a lot better for Rangers.

“The manager has a goal to get them back to the top league this season and they are playing with a good style as well. The fact that they are building is important.

“They are building a team that can win the league this season and also be ready to play in the top league next season.

“If you have got a team that has got a character, a personality, and a way of playing, then you only have to add a couple of players and make small changes next season to be ready for the top league.

“It is a young team and that is a good thing. The manager is able to build for the next season.”